Impact of hand-held weights on treadmill walking in previously sedentary women
Authors
Savin, Deborah J.Advisors
Morris, MikePublication Date
2012-07-31
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The aim of this dissertation was to study the physiological adaptations when hand-held weights are incorporated into a six-week programme of regular walking. Fourteen sendentary women aged 37+/-8 years were randomly allocated into one of two groups; hand-held weight group (HWG) and control group (CG). Twelve women (six per group) completed the study. Both groups completed a six-week unsupervised exercise programme comprising three 30min treadmill walks per week at 60-75% of predicted maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max). HWG carried two 0.91kg (2lb) hand-held weights using an active arm swing, CG exercised without weights. All walks were undetaken at 0% incline. Participant progress was monitored via the study website (www.sleepy8.com). Predicted VO2max, distance walked in 10min, body mass, waist circumference and sum of four skinfold sites were measured at Baseline, Week 4 and Week 6. The 12 participants completed 100% of the programme walks. Both groups experienced an increase in predicated VO2max; 37.0+/-4.7ml/kg/min to 40.0+/-4.7ml/kg/min (8%) for HWG, 33.4+/-6.4ml/kg/min to 38.9+/-2.8ml/kg/min (16%) for CG. These increases were neither statistically significant nor significantly different from one another. No significant differences between or within groups were found for body mass, waist circumference or sum of four skinfold sites. The addition of 0.91kg hand-held weights to a six-week regular walking programmes when undertaken by previously sedentary women, does not have a significantly greater impact on aerobic fitness or body composition than unweighted walking. Both forms of exercise were shown to produce meaningful improvements in aerobic fitness, but it is likely that the small sample size prevented these results from registering as statistically significant. There is no evidence to support the introduction of hand-held weights at the beginning of a walking programme for previously sedentary women if the objective is one of acelerating the improvement in aerobic fitness or body compostition. Conversely, no negative consequences of doing so have been observed here.Publisher
University of ChesterType
Thesis or dissertationLanguage
enCollections
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